Since May of 2008, forum member Kyle Harty has been working hard on continually improving the appearance of his Lexus GS400 inside and out – and his efforts have been paying off.
Early on, Kyle stuffed his sedan with audio equipment and equipped it with Tanabe DF210 springs and 20-inch L-Sportline wheels.
He paid special attention to the interior and exterior lights. The cabin of his 2GS received LEDs which complemented the rear end’s LED tail lights. Up front, Kyle installed the Infiniti Q45’s novel Gatling gun-style headlights.
Kyle decided to change things up in the spring of 2012. He swapped the Q45 front lamps out for LS 460 projectors and put a chrome 2001+ GS grille in between them.
Two years ago, Kyle “switched to Megan coilovers and added a TTE rep lip, then L-Tuned sides, and a L-Sportline rear. Also a JDM chrome trunk bar and Mac Blick rep roof spoiler somewhere in there and 35% window tint.”
Maya STM wheels, a SportDesign-style rear lip, JDM window visors, and a modified L-Tuned grille are just some of the parts that went on last spring. Kyle dressed up his interior by fitting it with Clazzio diamond-stitched seat covers and door inserts and the wood shift knob from an SC 430.
Gorgeous front and rear “VIP” tables, a trunk space-maximizing stereo installation, a new front bumper, and some engine detailing took Kyle’s GS to the next level. However, it’s probably not long until Kyle thinks of an even higher level that he can reach with his award-winning GS.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
Where do you go for answers when you have a Lexus with a gorgeous leather interior but are not sure about how to maintain that luxurious look? The "Club Lexus" forums, of course.
